PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Testing”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Evaluation of conventional and new generation tests for testing the humeral response to Mycoplasma pneumoniae antigens in natural infection in humans. III Use of ELISA, complement fixation and immunoelectroprecipitation tests in diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections--comparative analysis].

Agreement of the results of determining antibodies against M. pneumoniae was evaluated by the ELISA, complement fixation test (CFT) and immunoelectroprecipitation test (IEPT) in serum samples from 685 persons including 571 patients with respiratory tract infections and 114 clinically healthy subjects. Assuming the CF to be the reference test, a very high correlation exceeding 0.95 was found, on the basis of the calculated correlation coefficient, between the results of the CF and IEP tests and the CFT and ELISA in all immunoglobulin classes. The highest sensitivity (92.3%) was displayed by the ELISA in relation to the CF test when determining mycoplasmas antibodies of IgM and IgA + G + M classes and slightly lower sensitivity by the IEPT and ELISA when determining of IgG (83% and 82.1% respectively). The lowest sensitivity was displayed by the ELISA when determining mycoplasmal antibodies of IgA class (53.4%). Specificity of both the tests was high and exceeded 92%. Highest agreement of CFT and ELISA was obtained when detecting mycoplasmal antibodies in diagnostically significant titer in the M and A + G + M immunoglobulin classes (> 92%) while lowest agreement, although statistically significant, was obtained when detecting IgA antibodies (74.7%).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Articulation functions and test-retest performance of normal-hearing children on three speech discrimination tests: WIPI, PBK-50, and NV Auditory Test No. 6.

This study investigates the performance of normal-hearing children on three types of speech discrimination tasks: (1) a multiple-choice, closed-message set test requiring no verbal response, the WIPI; (2) an open-message set test for adults, Northwestern University Aue talker were administrated to 60 normal-hearing children, divided qually between the ages three-and-one-half, five-and-one-half, seven-and-one-half, nine-and-one-half, and 11-and-one-half years. The number of tests and sensations levels administered varied by age. The WIPI test yielded the highest discrimination scores, the PBK-50 was intermediate, and the NU-6 was most difficult. A small number of items on the WIPI test accounted for a large percentage of the errors. For three-and-one-half years olds, the WIPI appears to be the instrument of choice. For children aged five-and-one-half years, both the WIPI and the PBK-50 appear to be appropriate clinical tools. Children aged seven-and-one-half scored similar to children aged nine-and-one-half on the WIPI and to children aged nine-and-one-half and 11 and-one-half on the PBK-50 and NU-6. Test-retest differences were small on all three tests.

Audiometry↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of a complement resistance test, a chicken embryo lethality test, and the chicken lethality test for determining virulence of avian Escherichia coli.

Results with four pathogenic avian Escherichia coli isolates and one avirulent isolate in a complement resistance test, a chicken lethality test, and a chicken embryo lethality test were compared. Results of the complement resistance test with these isolates were highly correlated to results of the chicken lethality test of virulence. The chicken embryo test yielded results that were of a medium positive correlation with the chicken lethality results. The results of the complement resistance and chicken embryo lethality tests were highly correlated.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Investigation of Cushing's syndrome. The diagnostic value of the dexamethasone suppression test, the metopirone test and the CRF test].

We describe thirty-one patients with Cushing's syndrome, with the object of evaluating the relative merit of the Dexamethasone suppression test, Metyrapone test and Corticotrophin Releasing Factor (CRF) test in classifying the syndrome. Bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia (Cushing's disease) was present in sixteen patients. Three had bilateral macrodular hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex, six had adrenocortical adenoma, four had adrenocortical carcinoma, and two patients presented ectopic ACTH-syndrome. The diagnosis was surgically verified in every case. The Metyrapone test was found to give the safest classification in patients with Cushing's syndrome. The Dexamethasone test will diagnose Mb. Cushing reliably when suppression of serum cortisol is present following the large dose of Dexamethasone, but failure to suppress does not exclude the diagnosis. The CRF test is easy to perform and distinguished reliably between Mb. Cushing and other causes of the syndrome in eight out of ten patients in whom it was performed. Outpatient examination including the CRF test and CT-scanning of the pituitary and adrenal glands is advocated as a preliminary step in the classification of biochemically and clinically suspected cases of Cushing's syndrome.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗
PubMed1996

Validation of the SOS/umu test using test results of 486 chemicals and comparison with the Ames test and carcinogenicity data.

The present study gives a comprehensive update of all umu genotoxicity assay results published so far. The available data of 486 chemicals investigated with the umu test are compared with the Ames test (274 compounds) as well as rodent carcinogenicity data (179 compounds). On the whole, there is good agreement between the umu test and the Ames test results, with a concordance of about 90%. The umu test was able to detect 86% of the Ames mutagens, while the Ames test (using at least 5 strains) detected 97% of the umu positive compounds. The elimination of TA102 from the set of Ames tester strains reduced the percentage of detectable umu genotoxins from 97 to 86%. The agreement between carcinogenesis and umu response was 65%, which is comparable to earlier studies concerning rodent carcinogenesis and Salmonella mutagenesis. The present compilation of umu results provides a database that can be used for the comparison of the SOS-inducing activity of chemicals and their mutagenicity, respectively, carcinogenicity. The results presented here clearly demonstrate that a chemical which induces the expression of the umu operon can be regarded a rodent carcinogen with a high degree of certainty (93%).

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Preliminary studies of the TRUE test patch test system in the United States. TRUE Test Study Group.

Comparison of the TRUE Test patch test system with the chamber system recommended by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group showed concordance of results in 98% of tests with nickel, epoxy resin, and ethylenediamine dihydrochloride. Also, a panel of 12 TRUE Test screening allergens tested on 128 patients showed no irritant reactions but did show 46 positive responses of varying intensity. The TRUE Test is a promising alternative to current methods and offers the advantages of easy application and factory quality control.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Predictive testing for Huntington disease: social characteristics and knowledge of applicants, attitudes to the test procedure and decisions made after testing.

An investigation has been made of the social characteristics and knowledge and experience of Huntington disease (HD) for the first 80 individuals considering presymptomatic testing (applicants) at the medical genetics centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow and of attitudes to the test procedure and decisions made after testing for those who received a result. Sixty-one percent of applicants were female and 31% were over 40 years old. Almost all had a symptomatic parent but 38% did not know HD was in their family until they were over 25 years old and 48% had never received genetic counselling. Thirty-eight percent of applicants first heard of the test at the genetic clinic, 20% from a relative and 20% from the media, but none had received information from their GP. Thirty-one applicants did not have the test because they voluntarily withdrew (17 individuals), their family structure was unsuitable or no informative result was possible (11 individuals), or they were diagnosed clinically as being affected (3 individuals). Those who voluntarily withdrew did not differ significantly from the 49 who received a result in social characteristics or knowledge and experience of HD. Twenty-two individuals were found to be at increased risk (IR) (> 50% of becoming affected) and 27 to be at decreased risk (DR) (< 50% of becoming affected). There was a median period of 9 months between entering the test procedure and receiving a result and the main criticism of the procedure was that it took too long to complete and several individuals experienced considerable anxiety while awaiting their result.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Effects of test anxiety and sex of subject on neuropsychological test performance: Finger Tapping, Trail Making, Digit Span and Digit Symbol tests.

To determine the effects of anxiety and sex on various neuropsychological tests, 28 male and 28 female non-impaired, high and low test-anxious subjects were given the Finger Tapping, Trail Making (Forms A and B), Digit Span, and Digit Symbol tests. Sex significantly affected only the Finger Tapping Test; females made significantly fewer taps. High test-anxious subjects reported an increase in posttest state anxiety. However, test anxiety did not significantly affect performance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Testing the tests--an empirical evaluation of screening tests for the detection of cognitive impairment in aviators.

The FAA has expressed concern that flight safety could be compromised by undetected cognitive impairment in pilots due to conditions such as substance abuse, mental illness, and neuropsychological problems. Interest has been shown in the possibility of adding a brief "mini-mental exam," or a simple automated test-battery to the standard flight medical to screen for such conditions. The research reported here involved the empirical evaluation of two "mini-mental exams," two paper-and-pencil test batteries, and a prototype version of an automated screening battery. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value were calculated for each sub-task in a discriminant study of 54 pilots and 62 individuals from a heterogeneous clinical population. Results suggest that the "mini-mental exams" are poor candidates for a screening test. The automated battery showed the best discrimination performance, in part because of the incorporation of dual-task tests of divided attention performance. These tests appear to be particularly sensitive to otherwise difficult-to-detect cognitive impairments of a mild or subtle nature. The use of an automated battery of tests as a screening instrument does appear to be feasible in principle, but the practical success of a screening program is heavily dependent upon the actual prevalence of cognitive impairment in the medical applicant population.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Screening tests for dementia: agreement between CST14 and ADS3 is incomplete (Cognitive Screening Test and Amsterdam Dementia Test)].

The agreement between two screening tests for the detection of dementia was tested by comparing a 14-item orientation questionnaire (Cognitive Screening Test or CST14) and the short version of the Amsterdam Dementia Screening Test (ADS3: Visual Memory, Orientation and Fluency. All 106 consecutive patients (71% female) of a psychogeriatric day care center were tested in two sessions. Their mean age was 77,7 (range 52-89). Taking the advised cutting-scores into account, we found consistent results for 74% of the patients (95%-confidence interval: 65%-82%): 60 patients were positive for dementia on both tests, and 18 were negative. For 28 patients the results were inconsistent, in that more patients scored in the impaired range for ADS3 than for CST14.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Clinical evaluation of whole blood histamine release test simultaneously testing multiple allergens--correlated with bronchial provocation test].

We compared the efficacy of the novel histamine release test (HRT), which allows the determination of many allergens at the same time using a small amount of whole blood, with other conventional allergen diagnostic tests. HRT and RAST were both performed along with bronchial provocation tests (BPT) on 44 bronchial asthma patients in whom the etiologic allergen could not be determined by either intracutaneous tests (ICT) or ophthalmic response tests (ORT). The HRT uses a microtiterplate on which glass fibers have 10 kinds of allergens affixed. The histamine release ability at 6 different concentrations of each kind of allergen was examined. The concordance of HRT with respect to BPT was the highest at 82% in comparison with RAST at 66%, ICT at 55% and ORT at 60%. With each of the allergens, HRT had the highest concordance with BPT. On the other hand, RAST, ICT and ORT showed different results depending on the allergens. The positive predictive value of HRT was the highest at 76% compared with RAST at 59%, ICT at 51% and ORT at 64%. From these results, we concluded that HRT is a more useful diagnostic method for the confirmation of a clinical allergy than other conventional diagnostic methods.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Do long tests yield a more accurate diagnosis of dementia than short tests? A comparison of 5 neuropsychological tests.

OBJECTIVE: To provide comparative evidence for a valid and practical measure of mental-status functioning that could be used in dementia clinics. DESIGN: Five mental-status neuropsychological tools for dementia screening were administered to patients in a memory disorder clinic. These included the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Dementia Rating Scale, the 6-item derivative of the Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test, a short Mental Status Questionnaire, and a composite tool we labeled the Ottawa Mental Status Examination, which assessed orientation, memory, attention, language, and visual-constructive functioning. The tools were compared using various criteria, including the statistical factors of sensitivity and reliability; effects of gender, native language, and language of testing; the utility of these tests for the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer-type and vascular dementia; and sensitivity to cognitive decline in the entire sample and among patients with severe dementia. RESULTS: All of the tests were highly intercorrelated, suggesting that they are interchangeable. CONCLUSION: The comparisons along the various criteria indicate that if the objective is to have a general index of dementia of the Alzheimer type, short tests are at least as good and sometimes better than the longer tests.

Aging↗
PubMed2001

HLA-antibody testing: the immune phagocytosis inhibition test is superior to the PRA-STAT and NIH lymphocytotoxic test with respect to specificity.

We compared the specificity and sensitivity of four different methods for the detection of antibodies specific for HLA antigens. The NIH version of the complement-dependent cytotoxic test (CDC) was used as the gold standard to which we compared two Fcgamma receptor (FcgammaR)-dependent immune phagocytosis inhibition tests (IPI) and one commercial enzyme-labelled immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with soluble HLA class I-antigen preparations bound to the plate (PRA-STAT). Both IPI tests are based on the fact that HLA-antibodies specifically bind to antigens on the monocyte surface via their Fab portion, and in so doing block a neighbouring FcgammaR with their Fc region. This blockade prevents phagocytosis of IgG-coated red blood cells (RBCs), which can be measured either microscopically (IPIm) or photometrically (IPIp). The four assays were used in blind tests on 20 human alloantisera or monoclonal antibodies with known HLA-antigen reactivities. Additionally, two monoclonal antibodies and one human serum were titrated to elucidate the sensitivity of each test. After all tests were completed, the identities of the samples were disclosed. Both IPI methods detected and identified all clinically relevant HLA class I and class II specific antibodies. In contrast, the CDC was not able to detect noncytotoxic HLA-antibodies and HLA class II specific antibodies; however, it detected clinically insignificant IgM lymphocytotoxins. The PRA-STAT assay enabled identification of all cytotoxic and noncytotoxic IgG antibodies with specificity for HLA-class I antigens. With respect to sensitivity, the CDC and the IPI methods were superior to the PRA-STAT. These facts demonstrate the advantage of IPI methods in the detection of clinically relevant HLA-antibodies.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of a manual hexadimethrine bromide-antiglobulin test with saline- and albumin-antiglobulin tests for pretransfusion testing.

A prospective double-blind study compared a manual hexadimethrine bromide (Polybrene) antiglobulin antibody detection test (P-AHG) and crossmatch with the albumin-antiglobulin antibody detection test and saline-antiglobulin crossmatch routinely used in our laboratory. A total of 10,084 pretransfusion blood samples from approximately 6000 patients were tested. The P-AHG method detected 153 of 157 alloantibodies for which antigen-negative, crossmatch-compatible blood is routinely provided. All four antibodies not detected were anti-K. The routine techniques detected 147 of the 157 alloantibodies. The P-AHG method detected only 36 percent of the alloantibodies for which crossmatch-compatible blood is routinely provided without determination of the antigen status of the donor unit's red cells (e.g., anti-Lea), whereas the routine method detected 91 percent of such antibodies. Eighty-six percent of the 189 alloantibodies detected by the Polybrene technique were found before the addition of antiglobulin. The manual Polybrene test is a rapid and sensitive technique; it may be used without an antiglobulin phase as a routine crossmatch procedure when accompanied by a sensitive antibody detection test that includes antiglobulin and an additional test to ensure ABO compatibility.

Blood Grouping and Crossmatching↗
PubMed1995

Evaluation of the Epsilometer test (E test) for testing the susceptibility of coagulase-negative staphylococci to teicoplanin.

The antimicrobial susceptibilities of 118 clinical isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci to teicoplanin were determined by disc diffusion and the Epsilometer test (E test) and the results were compared with the MICs determined by the agar dilution method of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). There was a poor correlation of r = 0.5 between the zone diameters of inhibition and agar dilution MICs and 10 and four of the 11 isolates for which the MICs were > or = 32 mg/L were misclassified as susceptible by the disc test after applying the interpretative criteria of the NCCLS and the Comité de l'Antibiogramme de la Société Française de Microbiologie (CASFM), respectively. The E test tended to result in MICs that were lower than those determined by agar dilution and only 66% of MIC were within +/- 1 log2 dilution of each other. Only one of 11 resistant strains was detected by the E test and, although there was no false resistance, six resistant strains were misclassified as susceptible after applying the criteria of the NCCLS as were four such isolates when the criteria of the CASFM were employed, probably as a result of using too light an inoculum. Disc diffusion is not a reliable means of determining the susceptibility of coagulase-negative staphylococci but might be replaced by the E-test provided that discrepant results can be resolved by using a denser inoculum.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1999

[Antimicrobial resistance testing of H. pylori epsilometer test and disk diffusion test].

The resistance of Helicobacter pylori to antibiotics leaves great influence on treatment outcome. Routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing of H. pylori should be a simple, inexpensive and standardized method to be adopted. Agar and broth dilution techniques are difficult to perform and not practical. E-test and disk diffusion methods have the advantage of allowing the visualization of resistant subpopulations of bacteria within zones of inhibitions. We studied the susceptibility results of 246 H. pylori isolates against metronidazole and clarithromycin using E-test and disk diffusion test. The results of disk diffusion test were well correlated with these of E-test. Our results showed that disk method is cost effective and simple for the screening for antimicrobial resistance of H. pylori.

Clarithromycin↗
PubMed1978

[Comparative investigations of quantitative determination of cell-mediated immunity by skin test, macrophage migration inhibition test, and lymphocyte transformation test in guinea pigs (author's transl)].

Following an intradermal immunization of guinea pigs with bovine gamma globulin (BGG) and/or human serum albumin (HSA) emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant we studied the cell-mediated immune response and its manipulation by 6-mercaptopurine. Three accepted correlates of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) have been used for the estimation of the immune reaction: - Intracutaneous test (IT) - Macrophage migration inhibition test (MMIT) - Lymphocyte transformation test (LTT). Comparative studies of quantitative determinations of CMI showed a correlation of the results of the in vitro test systems (MMIT and LTT) with the state of delayed hypersensitivity of the experimental animals, estimated by the IT in vivo. The cell-mediated immune response against BGG was much higher than that against HSA. This could be shown by all three test systems. We detected an immunosuppressive influence of 6-mercaptopurine on the CMI of guinea pigs, due to the dose and the mode of application. Thereby the in vitro test systems detected quantitative differences and indicated already a partial success of the immunosuppressive therapy, whereas the IT allowed a qualitative estimation only.

Animals↗